Chelsea worry over Cole fitness

Monday 09 April 2012

Chelsea interim manager Roberto Di Matteo is facing the prospect of going into the club’s FA Cup semi-final without England left-back Ashley Cole, who is a doubt for the Wembley date with Tottenham Hotspur after spraining his ankle, the Daily Mail has reported.

Cole missed Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday with the problem and has been ruled out of Monday’s meeting with local rivals Fulham as well. The Mail add that Cole was left out of the squad to play Wigan as a precaution, but after the 31-year-old was unable to train on Sunday, doubts were raised over whether or not Cole would be ready to face Spurs a week later. The Champions League semi-final first-leg with Barcelona may also come too soon for the former Arsenal defender.

If Cole is not fit Chelsea academy graduate Ryan Bertrand could deputise for one of both of those showpiece fixtures, or Di Matteo could call upon Paulo Ferreira or Jose Bosingwa to fill the position, both naturally right-sided but with some experience of playing on the left.

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